Jacob Gillig was born aroound 1636. He was a Dutch Golden Age painter of still lifes. Although he born and died in Utrecht, he never registered as a master with the Utrecht Guild of Painters. Instead, he worked as a merchant and later, a prison warden.

He did not begin painting until his twenties and the subject of his preference was the depiction of fish, although there still exist some portraits of his hand. It is said he was possibly influenced by the fish market, which was located next to the city prison of Utrecht.

Gillig passed away in 1701, leaving behind a much respected oeuvre.